OMB Calls for More Actions to Protect Federal Networks

The Office of Management and Budget has called for additional work on the part of federal agencies in order to further defend federal systems, networks and data from threats.

OMB said Friday it coordinated with the White House’s National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security throughout fiscal year 2015 to implement initiatives meant to bolster federal cybersecurity policies, procedures and practices.

OMB noted a number of those cybersecurity initiatives such as the evidence-based CyberStat Reviews to hold agencies accountable for their cyber posture, the Cybersecurity Sprint to further protect federal information and assets and the $19 billion in funding under President Barack Obama’s FY 2017 budget request for cybersecurity resources.

“While this funding is a necessary investment to secure our nation in the future, we must continue to improve agencies’ resilience to cybersecurity incidents in the near term,” OMB said.

OMB also cited the Senior Agency Official for Privacy’s reviews that call for federal agencies “to take steps to analyze and address privacy risks and ensure privacy protections are in place throughout systems’ life cycles.”